By Joseph Bass

The decline of America is resulting from citizens not knowing much about the fundamental principles upon which our nation is based. For example, many Americans do not know our system of government is designed to keep a rich, powerful upper class from taking away the constitutionally recognized powers of the people.

Uninformed Americans do not understand how academic studies are supposed to be designed and completed, and so they are fooled when so-called “scholars” present anti-Second Amendment arguments in books that are often well-reviewed by and popular with the likes of the New York Times.

Credible scholarship involves a complete review of literature and an objective presentation of findings. Findings are then presented completely and objectively, not to support a biased point of view.

A complete review of Second Amendment literature does not support the positions of popular anti-Second Amendment authors, who take positions such as: (1) The right to keep and bear arms only involves membership in militias that have now been replaced by a professional armed service. (2) The Second Amendment does not relate to a private right to bear arms for self-defense, hunting, or any purpose other than joining the militia.

To determine how many of your friends and co-workers are misinformed about these issues, ask them the following question. “What percent of able-bodied American males at least 17 and under 45 years of age are members of a militia?” Many will guess a small percentage. In fact, most American males are militia members based on United States Code, Article 10, Sec. 311. Federal law recognizes nearly universal membership in an unorganized militia.

Consider a few quotes from our Founding Fathers.

“I ask, Sir, what is the militia? It is the whole people. To disarm the people is the best and most effectual way to enslave them.” George Mason

“A militia, when properly formed, are in fact the people themselves …” Richard Henry Lee

“The right of self-defense is the first law of nature … Wherever … the right of the people to keep and bear arms is under any color or pretext whatsoever, prohibited, liberty, if not already annihilated, is on the brink of destruction.” St. George Tucker

“And that the said Constitution be never construed to authorize Congress … to prevent the people of the United States, who are peaceable citizens, from keeping their own arms; …” Samuel Adams

“A free people ought not only be armed and disciplined, but they should have sufficient arms and ammunition to maintain a status of independence from any who might attempt to abuse them, which would include their own government.” George Washington

“Firearms stand next in importance to the constitution itself. They are the American people’s liberty teeth and keystone under independence … from the hour the Pilgrims landed to the present day, events, occurences and tendencies prove that to ensure peace, security and happiness, the rifle and pistol are equally indispensable.” George Washington

Did you study any of these quotes in school? Probably not, if you went to a government school.

Our Constitution, the Bills of Rights, and many of the other amendments are designed to keep government and a rich, powerful upper class from taking away the constitutionally recognized powers of the people. To be informed about such issues, it is important for Americans to read outside government-controlled books.

Joseph L. Bass is the executive director of ABetterSociety.Info Inc., a nonprofit organization in Hobson. Email him at ABetterSociety1@aol.com.